Aquarium oxygenator

Abstract

An aquarium oxygenator has a container inverted into the apex of a ceramic cone-shaped ceramic structure which rests on the floor of an aquarium. Hydrogen peroxide solution (15%) in the container is decomposed to form oxygen and water in the presence of a catalyst pellet of finely divided silver admixed with clay. Hydrogen peroxide seeps into the cone, and, in the absence of the catalyst, reacts with organic material in the water of the aquarium to produce oxygen which bubbles through an aperture in the side of the cone-shaped structure into the main body of water in the aquarium.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for dispensing oxygen by decomposing hydrogen peroxide in an aquarium containing water, comprising: a container holding hydrogen peroxide solution and a catalyst comprising 99.9% pure powdered metallic silver which passes through a size 325 mesh screen, an outlet from the container connecting into the top of an open-based ceramic structure, wherein a first portion of hydrogen peroxide is catalytically decomposed in the container to form oxygen and water, pressure generated by the presence of oxygen in the container forces a second portion of hydrogen peroxide to seep through the outlet into the water surrounded by the ceramic structure and to decompose to produce oxygen in the presence of organic material dissolved in said water and in the absence of said catalyst. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an aperture through a surface of the ceramic structure, wherein said oxygen formed by decomposition of the second portion of hydrogen peroxide flows through said aperture into the water in the aquarium outside the ceramic structure, and water in the aquarium flows through said aperture into the volume enclosed by the ceramic structure. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ceramic structure rests on a floor of the aquarium. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outlet from the container is secured to the ceramic structure by a connection comprising a gasket. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus for dispensing oxygen, useful for a water-containing aquarium, the apparatus comprising: a container having an outlet;   hydrogen peroxide solution and catalyst in the container, said catalyst comprising 99.9 percent pure metallic silver powder having a particle size of -325 mesh, said catalyst constituting means for decomposing hydrogen peroxide in the container into oxygen and water;   an open-based ceramic structure having a top portion comprising an inlet communicating with the outlet from the container; and   means for conveying material through the outlet from the container into the inlet of the ceramic structure without intermediate contact with water in the aquarium;   wherein pressure generated by oxygen formed in the container is sufficient to force a portion of hydrogen peroxide to pass from the outlet of the container through the inlet in the top portion of the ceramic structure into aquarium water surrounded by the ceramic structure, and oxygen is produced by reaction of said portion of hydrogen peroxide with organic material in the water.